Retribution within Labor circles after poll defeat

The retributions within Labor circles have already begun, with senior party figures attributing the loss to disunity, conniving and game playing.

While no-one is yet willing to blame Kevin Rudd by name, they are clearly pointing to the leadership ructions between him and Julia Gillard as the key factor in Labor's election loss.

Ms Gillard ousted Mr Rudd as leader in 2010, only for him to finally reclaim the position in June after three years of continuing instability.

Former climate change minister Greg Combet moved to the backbench and announced he would retire from politics at the election after Mr Rudd was returned.

He says although Tony Abbott ran a strong campaign, Labor must take a "very, very good look at itself" in the days to come.

"We cannot afford to have the sort of disunity that we've experienced over the last few years," he told ABC TV.

"You can't have two people in a political party vying for the leadership all the time, undermining going on, conniving with journalists and News Limited and all the rest to damage your own party, drive down its own vote, undermining your own leader, criticising colleagues in the press."

"But I think you have to acknowledge that the division that we've seen has been disastrous.

"I would give us 9/10 for governing the country. I'd give us 0/10 for governing ourselves. And I think it's pretty plain we had too many people playing their own games and not playing for the team."

Mr Beattie, a former Queensland premier who was parachuted in to contest the seat of Forde, says the party woes are the "one overriding thing" that will affect the election outcome.

"People will dissect the gizzards and pull out bits and pieces, but that's the reason this election is going the way it is," he said.

"That is the core issue. That's where the damage was done. I think it was the whole perception of disunity, if you like.

"We all know disunity is death in politics. Unity is a strength and what Tony Abbott did was put up a unified team.

"We certainly had one under Kevin, there's no doubt about that because Julia exited the scene in a constructive way, but it was the cumulative effect of six years and that's played into the spirit of, frankly, it's time for change."

Result 'could have been far worse'

But Rudd supporter and outgoing treasurer Chris Bowen, who has held on to his western Sydney seat of McMahon, says the "difficult" result is far better than what the party may have faced under Ms Gillard.

"Across the board it's a difficult night for the Labor Party, but compared to what we may have faced six or 12 months ago, it's a result which I think will stand us in good stead for the next three years and give us a base for the Labor Party to continue to be the voice for growth and opportunity that Australia needs," he said.

However, he would not say the result was a vindication for switching back to Mr Rudd as leader.

"I don't want to get into that tonight. I think what it is is an indication from the Australian people that disunity is not accepted in political parties and we need to bear that in mind for the next three years and beyond," he said.

Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten switched his support from Ms Gillard to Mr Rudd at the last minute during this year's spill.

The right faction powerbroker says tonight's result is incredibly difficult for the ALP but he believes it could have been far worse had Mr Rudd not been returned as the Labor leader.

"This is a night for reflection. There are many millions confident in us but there are certainly hundreds of thousands who've changed their votes away from us," he said.

"This is a night for reflection. But I also recognise Kevin Rudd made us competitive and for that I'm grateful."